February 23rd through March 1st

 February 23^rd through March 1^st:  Monday, we did some more shopping and in the evening went to dinner with John and Jill.  We had some great Thai food and enjoyed visiting with them. 

Dinner with John and Jill (Thai Food)

Tuesday we started off with my doctor’s appointment.  I got the prescription that I need to get enough medicine to finish out our mission.  We then went to lunch with my brother Van.  He chose a new hot pot restaurant here in SLC.  I got to speak both Chinese and Spanish.  All of the kitchen help were Chinese and the waiter was from Mexico.  We then went to Chris’ appointment.  The doctor agreed that she needed surgery and said that he could schedule her for Friday, if we want to get it done here in the states.  After a lot of discussion, we agreed to at least schedule the surgery and then see how we felt about it on Wednesday and Thursday.  We weren’t planning to get the surgery done on this trip, just get a second opinion.  In the evening, we went to dinner with Alex and Charlotte and Tilda.  Tilda is just a year old and is quite the momma’s girl.  

Dinner with Charlotte and Alex

Tilda and Mom

Tilda likes to feed herself.

Wednesday we went to lunch with our dear friends, Wally and Martha.  It was really fun to see them and catch up.  Martha is very involved in the operation of a secondary school for rural children living near Otavalo and Ibarra, Ecuador.   Wally has just been made Bishop of his ward.  We then drove to Lehi to stay with James and Kirstin.  We stayed overnight to get their kids more comfortable with us.  

The puzzle we did with James and his two helpers.

Thursday James and Kirstin took off for a little alone time.  After much going back and forth, Chris decided to do the surgery.  So Friday morning, Kirstin’s brother, Chase, took over and we headed to the Surgical Center.    After the surgery the doctor came out and told me that he has done thousands of these and that this was a tricky one and that he had to use all of the things he had learned over the years.  We are grateful that we were able to get this knee fixed and that it hopefully won’t give Chris any more problems.  The surgery was outpatient and so we left to tend Charlotte and Alex’s kids so they could have some alone time.  They were good kids and even  Tilda was cooperative.  We found an animal app on the ipad that she loved and it kept her entertained for the evening .  She likes her Poppa and we bonded.  

What a cutie for just waking up from surgery.

Saturday I went to John and Jill’s to tend their kids for their night away.  When Charlotte and Alex got home, mom got a nap and then joined me at John and Jill’s.  Their 4 kids are a little older and for me a little easier to take care of.  After I fixed dinner, mom was on the couch and said that she would get up and do the dishes.  Badger who is 11, said, “no, you are not going to get up and do the dishes.”  And he went in and cleaned up the kitchen.  He was so cute and insistent that she was not going to do anything but rest and recuperate.  

Moose's soccer game.

Sunday morning I fixed Swedish Pancakes and got everyone to church on time.  After church I got the turkey ready and peeled 8 lbs of potatoes.  

Ready for church.

We had everyone, but Ginny and Sam and Bryce and Kimball (Kimball had a fever) to dinner.  Everybody brought something and we had a delicious turkey dinner.  We had to set up 3 tables in John’s basement to be able to seat everyone.   We got home about 8:30pm and we both went straight to bed. 

Sunday dinner. (kids table)

Siblings table.

Everybody else.